Speaking on a Channels TV
programme on Sunday, he said the insurgents were “running riots” in all parts
of the country before the current administration came on board.

A total of 110 students of
Government Science and Technical College in Dapchi, Yobe, were abducted during
the attack which happened on Monday.

Adesina said even though the
Dapchi attack should not have happened, the insurgents attacked struck in Yobe
because they have “lost out” in Sambisa forest — in Borno state — their stronghold.

“I just want to appeal to the
parents of those girls to please bear with the government and trust that the
government will do all that is possible and necessary to bring those students
back,” he said.

“The insurgency was endemic in
three states — Borno, Adamawa and Yobe. But Adamawa and Yobe has been quite
under control because the insurgents were driven out completely.

“So it is not unlikely that when
they lost out in Sambisa forest, they then found their way back to Yobe which
was why what happened, happened. But I’m sure the military is responding
adequately to this.”

When asked if the insurgents have
been “totally defeated” like the Nigerian army claims, Adesina replied: “If the
question is totally, I will say no. But have they been degraded? I will say
yes. Terribly, so.”

He added: “Compare how the
situation was before this administration came. They were virtually running
riots everywhere. You can’t compare then and now. They have been terribly,
terribly degraded. But is the war over, no, it is not over.”